A deadly attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military formation in Izge village, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, left a Nigerian Army captain and a corporal dead in the early hours of Sunday, April 6.
The ambush, which occurred around 1am, saw heavily armed insurgents storm the troops’ base with rocket-propelled grenades. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai engaged them in a fierce gunfight that lasted hours.
Sources said the assault mirrored previous attacks on army bases in Wajirko and Wulgo villages in Damboa and Gamboru Ngala LGAs, respectively—operations that also recorded heavy casualties.
One Izge resident said, “We, the people of Izge, came under Boko Haram invasion at about 1:am when most of us were asleep. Unfortunately, a Captain and Corporal Soldier were among the scores of Boko Haram terrorists that were killed.
“Although many of the terrorists were also neutralised, those who survived quickly evacuated the dead bodies of their colleagues (Terrorists) from the scene.”
“The terrorists struck with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) targeting the platoon formation of only a few troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’.
“This led to a fierce battle and exchange of gunfire for some hours before some resilient residents of the community, with support from vigilantes and local hunters, complimented the efforts of the military and repelled the attack,” the resident added.
“As it is, many of our resilient people are still in the bush hunting for the whereabouts of the fleeing terrorists.”
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Attacks Military Formations in Borno, Two Soldiers Feared Dead
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, expressed deep concern over the sustained insurgent attacks in his constituency.
He said, “The federal government should take a decisive action by deploying sophisticated and technological warfare including drones to military and other security agencies to end the over decade Boko Haram crisis affecting the people of the North East region.”
Ndume, a former Senate Committee Chairman on the Army, also commended Izge residents for their bravery in backing the military to repel the assailants.
He urged the Tinubu administration to “Train, Equip, Arm and Motivate (TEAM)” the armed forces to effectively tackle terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other security threats across the country.
Though the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, could not be reached for comments, the Executive Chairman of Gwoza LGA, Hon. Abba Kawu Idrissa Timta, confirmed the attack.
He said he was still awaiting full casualty details but confirmed that “scores of the terrorists were killed in the clash.”
Izge, located deep in the Sambisa Forest and about 20km from Gwoza town, has remained one of the areas frequently targeted by Boko Haram insurgents.